Russia is Developing Transport Infrastructure in BSEC

27 april 2016

Seeing that the conditions for the implementation of BSEC transport projects are not particularly favorable, the efforts have been localized to a number of specific countries, even though some progress has been made with regards to creating some sections of the Black Sea Ring,” said the Analytical Center's expert Alexander Semenikhin, presenting the Development of Russian Transport in the Azov and Black Sea report at the international investment forum held as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

Speaking about the development of the transport
infrastructure in the region he noted such major projects as the highway going
around the Black Sea and development of sea routes as well as the efforts to
simplify the transportation of goods by road transport.

Russia is continuing the development of its port terminals,
railways and motorways in the region,” the expert concluded.

The port of Novorossiysk is operating at practically full
capacity and thus efforts are underway to build a new deep-water port in Taman,
a project for which the concession mechanism is to be used. The bridge across
the Kerch Strait will link the peninsula to the rest of Russia via rail and
roads and will in effect become part of the Black Sea Ring, reducing its length
by 500 km (compared with the route via Rostov-on-Don). A key bottleneck in the
railway infrastructure is the Krasnodar Hub and significant funds have been
allocated to expand its capacity.

“It should be noted that Russia is participating in
international projects to expand the railway networks of BSEC member states.
Thus, Russian Railways OJSC is implementing projects to modernize railway
infrastructure in Serbia, Armenia and is cooperating with Azerbaijan. Just
recently, the company has announced its intention to take part in the
privatization of the railways of Greece’s national rail operator,” Mr.
Semenikhin added.

“If there is no transport infrastructure, the other projects
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation will be harder to implement,” the expert
concluded.